Piatti brace and Bush clean sheet keeps Impact playoff hopes alive
MONTREAL – The Montreal Impact beat Toronto FC 2-0, Sunday afternoon at Stade Saputo, in its last MLS regular season home game of the 2018 campaign. The win, combined with a loss from the Columbus Crew SC, keeps the Impact’s playoff hopes alive heading into the last game of the season next week.
The Bleu-blanc-noir now faces a must-win situation on MLS Decision Day when it travels to Massachusetts to take on the New England Revolution. An Impact victory in the final game of the season, combined with a Columbus loss or tie, will allow Rémi Garde’s men to qualify for the fall tournament.
Piatti and Bush the difference
It was Nacho Piatti who finally found the breakthrough late in the second half, in the 74th minute. The Montreal faithful demanded a penalty when Piatti was taken down in the box by substitute Eriq Zavaleta. Although the call wasn’t given at first, a penalty was awarded to the Bleu-blanc after a consultation with video review.
The Designated Player stepped up to the plate himself, slotting it past Bono for his 15th goal of the season.
Then, with time running out in the 89th minute, Piatti was able to poke the ball past a rushing Bono and find the back of the net to seal the win with his eight career goal against Montreal’s biggest rival.
“It was an open game that ended up falling in our favour,” said head coach Rémi Garde. “We can’t say we controlled the game from beginning to end, but we had our opportunities. What I especially liked is that we got better as the game progressed.”
Evan Bush, on his end, ended the night with four saves, including a crucial save on forward Lucas Janson with minutes left to maintain the home side’s advantage, and his second consecutive clean sheet, bringing him to 10 on the season, an Impact record.
“We’ve been in a good way for a few months now,” said goalkeeper Evan Bush. “There were a couple of bad results in there, but we’ve been very good for the most part. It’s a special thing we have going on here, and hopefully we can keep it going a little bit longer.”
Chances in the first
Montreal was dangerous from the right side in the beginning of the game. In the seventh minute, some nice movement allowed Alejandro Silva to get in behind the defense on the right wing, but his cross towards Quincy Amarikwa was blocked.
Then, in the 14th minute, Saphir Taïder, on the right, switched to a wide-open Nacho Piatti on the opposite side. The Argentine took a touch and deked his marker, but his shot was parried away by a diving Alexander Bono.
The visitors earned their best chance of the half when Sebastian Giovinco was sent in behind the defense, but the Italian forward was stopped by Evan Bush.
Breakthrough in the second
Montreal took the initiative upon returning from the locker room, knowing it needed a goal to keep its playoff hopes alive. But it was the visitors who earned the half’s first chance, when Giovinco received the ball and the top of the box, turned, and shot, but his attempt clipped the cross bar and went behind for a goal kick.
Rémi Garde’s men answered back immediately with a chance of their own. Piatti, working in midfield, sent Silva in behind the defense. The winger quickly laid it off to Amarikwa, in alone, but his shot hit the post to Bono’s left and stayed out.
After conceding the opening goal, Toronto picked up the pace to try and equalize, but the hosts were able to hold on, scoring the insurance goal and securing their second win at Stade Saputo in as many games.
“We have an opportunity to make the playoffs, and we can only do that if we win next week,” said striker Quincy Amarikwa. “That’s all we can control. We win, and we give ourselves a chance.”
Upcoming game
The Impact will play its last game of the regular season at Gillette Stadium, on Sunday, October 28 at 4:30pm, against the New England Revolution on MLS Decision Day (TVA Sports, TSN, 98,5fm, TSN Radio 690). Members can take advantage of a free ticket offered by the Montreal Impact by communicating with your Member Sales & Service representative.
LINE-UPS
MTL – GK-Evan Bush; D-Bacary Sagna, Rod Fanni, Rudy Camacho, Jukka Raitala; M-Samuel Piette, Micheal Azira, Saphir Taïder; F-Alejandro Silva, Quincy Amarikwa (Victor Cabrera 78’), Ignacio Piatti
Subs not used – Clément Diop, Chris Duvall, Ken Krolicki, Jeisson Vargas, Mathieu Choinière, Matteo Mancosu
TOR – GK-Alexander Bono; D-Gregory van der Wiel, Chris Mavinga, Ashtone Morgan (Ryan Telfer 77’); M-Auro, Marco Delgado (Tosaint Ricketts 85’), Michael Bradley, Jay Champan (Eriq Zavaleta 69’), Jonathan Osorio; F-Lucas Janson, Sebastian Giovinco
Subs not used – Clint Irwin, Nick Hagglund, Liam Fraser, Jon Bakero
GOALS
MTL – Piatti (PEN) 74’
MTL – Piatti (Silva) 89’
CAUTIONS
MTL – Sagna 38’
TOR – Osorio 45’
